HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and violating his supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Washington Avenue residence in Huntington. Edward Sample, also known as “Caine,” 37, of Baltimore, was located in the house along with other individuals. Officers seized a loaded Taurus G3C 9mm pistol, capsules which contained heroin and fentanyl, $1,620 in cash, digital scales and a cutting agent during the search. Sample admitted to possessing the firearm to protect his money and drugs. Sample further admitted to using the same firearm two days earlier to shoot at a house in the Cross Lanes area in order to collect a $50 drug debt. The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department investigated that incident.
Samples was previously convicted of aiding and abetting an armed robbery and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in United States District Court for the District of Maryland on January 21, 2011. Today’s nine-year prison sentence includes two additional years for committing crimes while on supervised release.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force, the Huntington Police Department and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Greg McVey prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-58.
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